Tucked away in Exmouth, A la Ronde is one of Devon’s most unusual historic houses. Built in the late eighteenth century for cousins Jane and Mary Parminter, this remarkable sixteen-sided home is full of fascinating details, curious features and stories that reveal the imagination of its original owners.
Inspired by their travels around Europe, the Parminter cousins created a home unlike almost any other. From its intricate Shell Gallery, decorated with thousands of shells, to its distinctive layout and unusual family history, A la Ronde offers plenty to discover.
A la Ronde: The Unusual House Built for Two Cousins
One of Exmouth’s most extraordinary historic attractions is A la Ronde, a sixteen-sided house built in the late eighteenth century for cousins Jane and Mary Parminter.
After travelling around Europe on a Grand Tour, the women returned to Devon and created a home inspired by their experiences abroad. They bought land near Exmouth in 1796 and set about creating a distinctive rural retreat filled with mementoes from their travels.
One of its most remarkable features is the Shell Gallery, decorated with intricate designs made using thousands of shells, alongside feathers and other materials. The National Trust’s collection includes a remarkable detail: the gallery’s designs feature as many as 25,000 shells.
But the curiosities don’t stop there. At the heart of the house is the Octagon, a central space from which the ground-floor rooms radiate. Look closely at its eight doors and you’ll discover that one is a fake – it doesn’t open at all!
Jane and Mary were women with imagination and independence, and their home remains a wonderful example of their creativity. Today, visitors can explore this distinctive National Trust property and discover more about the lives and travels of its original owners.
The Little Chapel Built for a Bigger Purpose
Just a short distance from A la Ronde stands another fascinating part of the Parminters’ legacy: Point in View Chapel.
Completed in 1811, this small, single-storey building was designed to serve several purposes. Alongside a place of worship, it originally contained four almshouses, accommodation for a minister and a schoolroom for six girls from poorer local families.
The school offered girls an opportunity to learn reading and needlework, with writing added later. The women living in the almshouses were expected to support themselves through skills such as sewing, knitting and spinning.
Following Jane Parminter’s death, Mary established a trust in 1813 to oversee the chapel and its wider community work. The school continued into the early twentieth century, closing in 1901.
It’s a remarkable story of how two women’s vision extended beyond their unusual home. Their legacy wasn’t just a distinctive building, but a small community designed to provide worship, education and support for local people.
A Remarkable Will and an Unusual Inheritance
Mary Parminter was determined that A la Ronde and its contents should be preserved. Her will was extraordinarily detailed, with two principal aims: to keep the house and its collections intact, and to allow only unmarried female relatives to inherit.
It was an unusual arrangement, reflecting Mary’s wish to protect the home she had created with Jane and to preserve its distinctive character for future generations.
The arrangement shaped the house’s ownership after Mary’s death in 1849. Eventually, A la Ronde passed out of the family’s hands, and it is now cared for by the National Trust.
Today, the house remains a fascinating reminder of the Parminters’ creativity, independence and determination to leave something lasting behind.
Discover the Curious History of A la Ronde
From its distinctive sixteen-sided design and remarkable Shell Gallery to the fascinating lives of Jane and Mary Parminter, A la Ronde is full of details that make it unlike any other historic house.
Its story is a reminder that history isn’t just about grand events and famous names. Sometimes, it’s the unusual choices, personal passions and little details left behind that make a place truly memorable.
If you’re visiting South Devon, why not add A la Ronde to your list? Explore its extraordinary interiors, discover the stories behind its design and uncover the curious history of a house that continues to intrigue visitors today.
Planning a visit? Explore our guides to things to do in Exmouth, discover local history and heritage, and find inspiration for your next South Devon getaway.
